The Vancouver Maritime Museum combines dozens of intricate model ships, detailed re-created boat sections and some historic vessels, including the St Roch, a 1928 Royal Canadian Mounted Police Arctic patrol sailing ship that was the first vessel to navigate the legendary Northwest Passage in both directions.
The A-frame museum building was actually built around the St Roch (evocative free tours of the vessel are offered). The museum has struggled slightly in recent years, with its non-city-center location making it hard to keep admission numbers up. But it is adding some interesting temporary exhibitions to lure the locals – a recent one covered sailors' tattoos and naughty scrimshaw carvings.
